In one of the highest athletic honors possible, the gymnasium at Sachem High School North was renamed in honor of former Sachem Athletic Director and alum Tom Sabatelle Tuesday evening. The gym is now known as the “Thomas J. Sabatelle Alumni Gymnasium”.
Sabatelle, who graduated from Sachem in 1960, and was one of the first alums hired by the district to teach and coach, spent most of his career as athletic director, making a positive impact on the students, staff and reputation of the Sachem Central School District.
“I feel deeply honored and humbled,” said Sabatelle. “I represented Sachem in athletics in 1955. Here we are some 60 years later and I still have a bond with the school community. When I reflect about the great athletes and coaches who competed in this gymnasium, and the fact that both my son and daughter competed here as well, I am overwhelmed by this honor.”
“This gymnasium speaks vividly about Sachem in it’s infancy and now. A hard working, caring community whose students, athletes, coaches and teachers give their all every day. I am thrilled to be remembered this way.”
Last year Sabatelle earned induction to the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame.
Sabatelle was the inaugural winner of the Richard Van Norr Award in 1960 as the district’s top male athlete, exceeding in soccer, basketball and track.
After spending four years at Ithaca College, Sabatelle was a physical education teacher at Sagamore and Seneca before serving as the district’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics. He worked at Sachem for 34 years until his retirement in 1998.
In Sachem sports history, only a handful of individuals have achieved a similar honor, but Sabatelle is the first to person to have have a gymnasium named after himself.
The football field at Sachem North is named after Fred Fusaro, the wrestling room at Sachem North is named after Jack Mahoney, the soccer field at Sachem North is named after Don Woolley, the press box at Sachem North is named after Spider Westervelt, the track at Sagamore is named after Ray Smith and five athletes have their numbers retired at Sachem North (Jumbo Elliott, Neal Heaton, Jeff Ruland, Doug Shanahan and Nicole Kaczmarski).
What they’re saying about Sabatelle …
Sachem Superintendent James Nolan: “I often find myself lost for words when attempting to adequately articulate what WE ARE SACHEM truly means. No words are sufficient or even necessary when describing this to Tom Sabatelle because Tom has and continues to demonstrate what Sachem is all about. He was a student-athlete, teacher, coach and administrator who always represented Sachem with class and dignity. Both Tom Sabatelle and Sachem are Sans Egal! I am forever grateful for his guidance, support and friendship.”
Sachem Athletic Director Pete Blieberg: “Personally, I owe my career at Sachem to Tom who hired me back in 1981 and who by example showed me how to work with people from all backgrounds and how to make each of those individuals feel important to the overall success of the Sachem athletic community. I never forgot those traits as I worked in two other districts and could not be prouder to carry on those traits today serving in the same role that Tom once held. This dedication is most deserving and I feel fortunate to be able to be a part of it. I truly believe in the importance that the students of the Sachem School District understand the impact that Tom Sabatelle had on Sachem and that will be something they will be reminded of each and every time they enter the gymnasium at Sachem North High School.”
Legendary Sachem Football Coach Fred Fusaro: “There were times when we argued like a cat and dog, but we always had mutual respect for each other and we had the same goal, making Sachem No. 1.”
Legendary Sachem Wrestling Coach Jack Mahoney: “It was a pleasure to work for Tom Sabatelle. The coaches at Sachem were actually the envy of other coaches in Suffolk. When other wrestling coaches asked me about Tom, I would just tell the truth… He was an Athletic Director who was always there for us. He knew he had a good coaching staff and he would support us every step of the way as we coached the athletes of Sachem.
If you had a big meet on Saturday, you knew he was there for you and then he was the first phone call you would receive at home on Sunday. If you had a problem or needed something for your program, his door was always open for you. If Tom believed in our requests and couldn’t make it happen himself, he didn’t hesitate to go see someone who could.
The athletes knew who he was also. At the start of every season Tom would make the rounds to all of the team practices, stop in, say hello and wish the athletes at that practice a great season. It was the little details like that that made him so great.
What came natural to Tom, was reflected in our programs. He led us with grace, integrity, great work ethic and most of all a smile on his face and laughter in his voice. Like I said, “It was a pleasure to work for and with Tom Sabatelle!”
Sachem Football Coach Dave Falco: “Tom was the guy who believed in me and gave me my opportunity at Sachem, hiring me in 1995. I will forever be grateful he gave me that opportunity. As a student and as a young teacher/coach I always looked up to Tom and the way he handled himself at Sachem events. He loved his job and he loved Sachem and it showed. I am lucky to have worked for him.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro